how to topoff tank? - Aquarium Advice

guitarded · 09-07-2004, 06:26 PM

what is the proper way to top off a [acronym:2fabc3262d="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:2fabc3262d] tank? do u folks keep a batch of mixed saltwater around to top off or do u top off with fresh water?

klam · 09-07-2004, 06:42 PM

Top off with fresh water.
Water evaporates and the salt stays so you want to add fresh water to keep the salinity consistent.

Oh, it's always good to have mixed salt water handy just in case you have to do an emergency water change.

malkore · 09-07-2004, 06:43 PM

exactly what Klam said...top-offs are freshwater, preferably R/O water, so salinity, hardness, etc...isn't altered.

But you do tend to keep a batch of saltwater mixed 2-3 days in advance of a water change.

guitarded · 09-07-2004, 06:45 PM

very good... thank you

fishfreek · 09-07-2004, 07:26 PM

Alot of us topoff with [acronym:226b1986c9="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:226b1986c9] water also.

WarOrks15 · 09-08-2004, 12:07 AM

i dump it in the sump so it mixes with that water before it is sent out to the main tank. i think it might be a little better one the fish and inverts.

srgetz · 09-08-2004, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Alot of us topoff with [acronym:df87a47acd="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:df87a47acd] water also

Same here...curious, do you buffer the [acronym:df87a47acd="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:df87a47acd]? I do, I find my [acronym:df87a47acd="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:df87a47acd] [acronym:df87a47acd="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:df87a47acd] really low like 7.7

Anemoneman · 09-08-2004, 09:40 AM

7.7 is a litle on the high side for [acronym:6e49bd2b79="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:6e49bd2b79] water. The water should be pure H2O with a pH of 7. Don't add anything to the make up water. Just pour it in. Best method is an auto top off where the water is added slowly to avoid disturbances in the water parameters.

klam · 09-08-2004, 12:55 PM

I love the auto-top off. Makes my life a little easier knowing my salinity is more consistent. I currently own a top-off that uses a float switch but it doesn't have a failover. I'm thinking about getting the Tunze Osmolator Universal top-off because it has 2 failovers.

malkore · 09-08-2004, 01:30 PM

Yeah, R/O water should be almost a perfect 7.0pH, with no hardness/alkalinity.

09-07-2004, 06:26 PM	#1
guitarded Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii Posts: 204	how to topoff tank? what is the proper way to top off a [acronym:2fabc3262d="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:2fabc3262d] tank? do u folks keep a batch of mixed saltwater around to top off or do u top off with fresh water?

09-07-2004, 06:42 PM	#2
klam Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 730	Top off with fresh water. Water evaporates and the salt stays so you want to add fresh water to keep the salinity consistent. Oh, it's always good to have mixed salt water handy just in case you have to do an emergency water change. __________________ Paintballs look like bubble gum 14G starphire,150W [acronym:2ed2cd9cf2="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:2ed2cd9cf2]+32W act03,AquaClear 150 [acronym:2ed2cd9cf2="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:2ed2cd9cf2] filter, 75W EboJager, IceProbe chiller, Remora skimmer, closed loop SCWD mag5, auto toper-offer. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...lam/banner.jpg

09-07-2004, 06:43 PM	#3
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	exactly what Klam said...top-offs are freshwater, preferably R/O water, so salinity, hardness, etc...isn't altered. But you do tend to keep a batch of saltwater mixed 2-3 days in advance of a water change. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

09-07-2004, 07:26 PM	#5
fishfreek Aquarium Advice FINatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 971 Images: 82	Alot of us topoff with [acronym:226b1986c9="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:226b1986c9] water also. __________________ Remember dont tap the glass, your fish will think you're an idiot -Anonymous mother Check out our articles area. 30+ Aquatic articles for your enjoyment Are you in or around the Shenandoah Valley area? If so click here to join our regional forum. Looking for affordable web hosting? Look no more We have the answer Learn more about Coral Reef Conservation. Free photo hosting

09-08-2004, 12:07 AM	#6
WarOrks15 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Rosemount, MN Posts: 1,073 Images: 24	i dump it in the sump so it mixes with that water before it is sent out to the main tank. i think it might be a little better one the fish and inverts. __________________ A 46 [acronym:26a24007a2="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:26a24007a2] bow front (Soft coral) reef tank with a 10 [acronym:26a24007a2="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:26a24007a2] sump. And a 30 [acronym:26a24007a2="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:26a24007a2] ([acronym:26a24007a2="Small Polyped Stoney"]SPS[/acronym:26a24007a2] and Clam) reef tank hooked up to the sump of the 46 so they share water.

09-07-2004, 06:45 PM	#4
guitarded Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii Posts: 204	very good... thank you

09-08-2004, 09:40 AM	#8
Anemoneman Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2002 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 1,001 Images: 16	7.7 is a litle on the high side for [acronym:6e49bd2b79="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:6e49bd2b79] water. The water should be pure H2O with a pH of 7. Don't add anything to the make up water. Just pour it in. Best method is an auto top off where the water is added slowly to avoid disturbances in the water parameters. __________________ Mark

09-08-2004, 12:55 PM	#9
klam Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 730	I love the auto-top off. Makes my life a little easier knowing my salinity is more consistent. I currently own a top-off that uses a float switch but it doesn't have a failover. I'm thinking about getting the Tunze Osmolator Universal top-off because it has 2 failovers. __________________ Paintballs look like bubble gum 14G starphire,150W [acronym:2ed2cd9cf2="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:2ed2cd9cf2]+32W act03,AquaClear 150 [acronym:2ed2cd9cf2="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:2ed2cd9cf2] filter, 75W EboJager, IceProbe chiller, Remora skimmer, closed loop SCWD mag5, auto toper-offer. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...lam/banner.jpg

09-08-2004, 01:30 PM	#10
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	Yeah, R/O water should be almost a perfect 7.0pH, with no hardness/alkalinity. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

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